Hi Everyone,

Today I have good news and bad news for you... The BAD news is that there will be no photos with this quick update... BUT the GOOD news is, I will be doing another update in a couple of days that has LOADS of photos. ... the EVEN BETTER STILL news is that Darren has written you his own personal update below. I was in a coma when he wrote this and I was very surprised and impressed when I woke to find him typing his little heart out! So.. here you go... see you in a couple of days when I will reveal all about Japan and Australia!

Bye, Leonie

Hi Everyone,

I'm sitting on a Qantas plane on my way from Tokyo to Sydney. I left Tokyo at 8 pm last night....and arrive in Melbourne at 9.30 am on Wednesday for a gazzillion press and promo things. I haven't slept a wink. I can't because these chairs only go back so far and well...I'm kind of exhausted. I have to tell you the worst enemy of a singer is lack of sleep and dehydration. I am drinking gallons and gallons of water..but alas..no sleep. Oh well. When I get into Melbourne (we change planes at Sydney) I'll try to sleep for a few hours before going to the radio station where we are performing three songs acoustic...and then the t.v show tonight for a strictly Daniel and Darren only version of I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE.

This has been a really busy time for us. The European leg of the trip was so hectic.. at one point I was in three countries in one day. I woke up in Italy....flew to Holland...did press there and then flew to London that night and went to bed. I actually didn't get to see ANYTHING all over Europe. My only time off was twenty minutes in Milan to do some shopping...and all the stores were closed!!! haha. But you know...I love this album and I'm more than happy to put in the time to constantly talk about it for the next few months.

This Aussie trip is a shame because it's soooo short. I don't even get to go to Brisbane unfortunately. It's just been back to back. When we finish in Oz it's straight back to the U.S for the launch there.

I have to tell you all about Japan. God I love that country. I have to say I feel a very special connection with the culture and the people. I feel like our fans there really GET the music. They are so kind and patient and considerate. I love that. We get so many gifts there from fans that I am compelled to tell you what I've been saying for a while now. Please don't spend any more money on gifts for us!! We appreciate your effort so much..but I really don't want you guys to waste any more money on us! Granted..you buy our albums..and that's what keeps us employed...so thank you... but please....we are so blessed. I know what it's like to be young and to struggle to save money. If you want to do something really sweet for us....the BEST thing you could ever do would be to donate one dollar to a charity of any kind. It could be for children..cancer...A.I.D.S or education. Just write a little note telling me you did so...and give the note to me...or just TELL ME/US...and that would make me happier than a million soft toys or candy. Don't get me wrong...I love the fact that so many fans are sweet enough to go out and buy gifts for us...but at concerts when I see soft toys on the stage I think...'These toys should be in a children's hospital...not on stage with me.."

You'll notice I'm completely avoiding being funny. Don't worry...I am a riot...but you know...with a friend like Leo constantly cracking you up every week I think to myself...DON'T EVEN GO THERE...she's the master of funny bones and I would merely come off a weak second to her ever gaining popularity. All hail Leonie I say. By embracing her I shall become more powerful than she could possibly imagine...

Today I was a little tired boarding the plane...and, well, kind of delirious... I invented an alter ego. His name is Edwardo Phillipe and he's a Latin Australian born in Brazil but RAISED in Australia. Due to an unfortunate rollerskating incident he is no longer able to perform the Salsa or other related sexy Latino dances. Don't ask me to explain. Hey..if I could dance don't you think I'd be makin' my own sexy butt videos?

Ok...so.....I love my band. There's Anna Maria-Laspina who's just adorable...incredibly talented and my co-star in THE UP NOD.. And the ever sly and top secret squirrel Lee Novak...master of illusion. Ben Carey still looks more like a rock star than any of us...I love his new cowboy hat. Jennifer is our wonderful new keyboard player and she is SMOKIN'! And Angie...the evil counterpart to Anna on Backing Vocals...she is such a wonderful addition to our crew... beautiful voice..all calm and zen like and gorgeous too. Karl Lewis is constantly getting stressed over the fact that I lean..put fingerprints on and sometimes even lick the plastic shield that separates the apocolyptic bang and crash of his drums and my vocal mike. It's this barrier that prevents his drums drowning out my sound on stage... he spends hours polishing it and in an instant on stage I can reduce him to a mere SMERE..completely unrecogizable...with the pressing of my face against it. It's fun.

Alright..
Leonie's getting jealous. I ALMOST became funnier than her.

She just commented to me..that on this flight we watched a movie where they edited out the word for a female dog and replaced it with WITCH.. and yet let the SOUTHPARK movie slip by completely unchanged. I learned some new cuss words today folks.

Eerrrrggghh....Well it's now Thursday night in Australia...I just can't believe how busy I've been. The day we arrived in Australia I had no sleep...ended up performing 3 songs live on radio and then we did I DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE on The Panel. Last night...after all that...I COULDN'T GET TO SLEEP until 1 am and woke at 5. Whoa. I'm totally sleep deprived now... So...I'm signing off. Next update Leo will tell you all about the Album Launch in Australia.

Bye..
Darren